News
Two and a half years since its launch, a Washtenaw County program that aims to "bridge the digital divide" by providing computers to low-income households is reporting success.
More than 200 discarded computers have been refurbished and put into the hands of residents in need, and a handful even have been donated to nonprofit agencies, said Jack Bidlack, director of The Business Side of Youth, a program at Eastern Michigan University that aims to improve academic success among area youths through an entrepreneurship curriculum. MORE...
According to 2008 Washtenaw County government estimates, 8,000 to 10,000 county residents don't have a computer because they can't afford one. That affects their ability to find out about jobs, contact people and obtain information.
The phenomenon is known as the digital divide, and it creates a built-in disadvantage for those who can least afford it. But one group at Eastern Michigan is working with the county to bridge the divide... MORE...
Members of Eastern Michigan University's Business Side of Art, or B. Side of A., unveiled their new digital magazine, "Concepts of Life" at their graduation ceremony Aug. 6 at the Spark East building in downtown Ypsilanti.
The online magazine features articles, photos and videos chronicling issues facing individuals ages 16 through 24. The website was launched following a six-week program in which 17 students shadowed journalists, advertising agents and multimedia companies to better understand the world of community reporting. MORE...